Arun Culprits
I really appreciate your efforts to bring out the real culprits of Arun III in the public court (Spotlight January 16-22, Life Without Light). Had Arun III been completed on time, the country would not have faced this severe load shedding. The time has come to expose those who played the major role in cancelation of the Arun III project. Since most of the anti Arun III lobbies represented the urban elites who don't have to lose anything as they can afford all kinds of alternatives. Thanks to the long hours of load shedding, the country's industry is now virtually non-operational. This is the time to expose those persons. As we know most of them are enjoying luxurious life. More the country will have severe load shedding, more the people will be angry at those culprits in civil society and politics.
Sabin Shrestha
Via- Email
One Sided
Your cover story is one sided and biased (Spotlight Cover story January 16-22). Actually it is not the cancellation of Arun III project but the mismanagement of the successive governments to implement suitable hydropower projects to meet the demand of the country. I still think that Arun III was a white elephant and it might have cost billions of rupees to complete it. By making efforts to cancel Arun III, they saved the country from going bankrupt and pay high tariffs for power. I don't understand why you always raise these unnecessary issues in your paper whenever you write on load shedding.
Dinesh Lama
London Via-email
Part Of Life
After reading your cover story, I came to realize that the load shedding is going to be a part of everyday life for all Nepalese for a long time to come. As the country has been passing through a very critical time of political instability and the country is in transition, no one will really invest money in the hydro power sector. Even the projects identified by the government and Nepal Electricity Authority will not be complete on time due to uncertain situation and bandhas. It is shameful to say that the mistakes of past government have made the entire life in Nepal very difficult. One of the very unfortunate parts of Nepal is that there are always delays in decision making process. I don't understand why the new government led by Maoist leader Prachanda is too busy to blame other parties. He must pursue the policy prepared by previous government to complete some of the important projects like Upper Tamakoshi, Kabeli, Chameliya and Kulehkani III. If necessary, the government also needs to provide the loan to encourage the private sector.
Jamuna Ghale
Via email
Statute Delay
It is very unfortunate to say that Nepal has to wait a long time to see the new constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly. Your cover story (Constitution Making Race Against Time, January 9-15) rightly pointed out several questions regarding the constitution making. I don't think the constitution making process is as easy as politicians think. At a time when the country is divided in such a way on several issues, it is impossible even for the god to draft the constitution acceptable to all. There is a need to sort out fundamental question regarding the federation, formation of government and so on. Even there seems to be confusion about the universal definition of democracy as many political parties now in the parliament are communists who have their own democratic models. It makes me very sad to know that political leaders are yet to prepare a guideline on the constitution making.
Nirmal Subedi
Via Email
Tough Task
I don't understand how this 601 member jamboree of CA will draft the constitution in two years period. As most of the members are legal illiterates, they need more consultations before taking any decision on the constitution. As Nepal's friendly countries are coming with their own proposals for constitution making, these legal illiterates will create more trouble to the process. As Nepal has seen many midnight miracles in the past, it needs another miracle to pass the new constitution. Otherwise, it is virtually impossible to see new constitution on time. The time is now for writing the constitution rather than stoking any debate on it.
Subhadra Rai
Via email
